Nigeria: Religious Leaders Stress Social Justice During Ramadan Observances
ABUJA — The Chairman of the Anwaru-L-Huda League of Nigeria, Garki branch, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem A. Smith, has emphasized that true Islamic worship during Ramadan is inseparable from social responsibility and compassion for the vulnerable. Speaking at the organization’s annual Ramadan lecture in Abuja, Smith linked the holy month’s spiritual duties to Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
Smith noted that Ramadan occurs amid significant national and global pressures, including economic hardship, moral decline, leadership deficits, and social inequality. “For many families, survival has become a daily struggle. Poverty, unemployment, and social dislocation have tested the resilience of our people,” he stated. He underscored that Islam’s emphasis on Zakat (obligatory alms), Sadaqah (voluntary charity), and collective responsibility is a direct response to such conditions, making social justice a core tenet of the faith.
The chairman highlighted a key community initiative by the League: a fundraising drive targeting N1.2 billion for the completion of a community mosque and Imam’s quarters in Kubwa, Abuja. He reported that the project is approximately 40 percent complete, illustrating the organization’s commitment to tangible social development.
The event also featured a lecture by Professor Olaofe Musa Adeyemi, Chief Missioner of the Ansar-U-Deen Society of Nigeria, Abuja. Adeyemi urged Muslims to move beyond passive religious consumption and become active architects of a just society. He called for the creation of a community where every citizen, irrespective of creed or ethnicity, can live with dignity—a principle he described as central to the prophetic model of nation-building.
The annual gathering, themed “The Prophetic Model of Nation Building: Economic and Social Justice,” provided a platform for reflection on Quranic teachings and the ethical obligations of Ramadan. Speakers consistently connected personal spirituality with broader societal welfare, framing charitable giving and advocacy as essential components of the month’s observance.
The lecture underscores a growing emphasis among Nigerian Muslim leaders on integrating faith-based practice with concrete efforts to address poverty and inequality. The ongoing Kubwa mosque project serves as a local example of this approach, aiming to provide both a spiritual and communal support hub. Organizers indicated that the fundraising and construction efforts will continue beyond Ramadan, seeking broader community and institutional support to achieve completion.
